Valentine’s Day Celebrations 2018

Valentine’s Day lands on Wednesday, Feb. 14, leaving plenty of opportunities to celebrate on the preceding weekend. This year’s picks include activities with your sweetheart, friends or family members plus a few that are fun and easy on the pocketbook. Whether you’re sipping champagne in front of the big screen, storming the castle, or even laughing for a good cause, we hope your special day will be a most memorable one!

A five-course meal by Chef Jeff Scott will be served in the tasting room from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 9. Cost: $125/person. Food and wine included. Space is limited. Call 805-238-3378 or reserve tickets at osolibre.com.

Starring Chad Stevens, Bobby Horn and John Laird with the Brett Mitchell Trio. Attend a dinner and a show for $85 each or $80 for groups of eight or more. Show only is $25. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for cocktails. Martinis/wines available for purchase. Dinner starts promptly at 6 pm and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Three-course dinner catered by Chef Andre Averseng of PasoTerra features choices of entrees, salads and desserts. Note: Dinner order deadline is six days prior to event. (Sorry, no dinner orders at the door.) Tickets and dinner orders: Call 800-838-3006 or visit winecountrytheatre.com.

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of winery sampling and downtown shopping on Saturday, February 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. Many merchants will have terrific Valentine’s Day specials. One ticket covers tasting the entire event. Hosted by Atascadero Main Street. Tickets: $20/person are available at Historic City Hall, 6500 Palma Avenue, beginning at noon. Entry includes wine glass. Age 21/older only. Enjoy listening to The Fairweather Four barbershop quartet and complementary docent-led tours of Historic City Hall. Sponsored by City of Atascadero and Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. Call 805-462-0177.

Hosted by comedienne Lizette Mizelle. Music by Rewined. Featuring television’s favorite comics, including Mark Eddie, Collin Moulton, Paul Ogata, and your host, Lizette Mizelle. Showtime is at 8 p.m. Rated PG/21 years and up. Advance tickets/$35 or $40/door. Order at thebiglaughlive.com or call 805-712-0400. All event proceeds will support the all-volunteer nonprofit organization Second Chance at Love Humane Society in Templeton.

offers an opportunity throughout February for sightseers to behold Randolph Hearst’s iconic “La Cuesta Encantada” estate, nestled high above the San Simeon coastline. The 127-acre property features twin towers, terraced gardens, fountains and pools. Note: The Neptune Pool is currently under restoration; the interior Roman Pool is open. Choose from several available themed tours by calling 805-444-4445 or visit hearstcastle.org.

Monarch Butterflies

On the coast with your loved ones is a relaxing and unique way to allow nature to take its course on Valentine’s Day Weekend. The monarchs are a Central Coast treasure, and can be seen daily throughout February at the Pismo Butterfly Trees, Highway 1 (at the south end of the North Beach Campground) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Docents from Morro Bay State Park share information from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, 805-772-2694. Call Pismo Chamber at 800-443-7778 or visit monarchbutterfly.org.

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I grew up in Guadalupe, California, where hardworking people toil knee-deep in fields of broccoli and cauliflower. My own all-nighters in packing sheds, a slew of menial jobs and establishing a law enforcement career as a City police officer and dispatcher fostered within me a deeper awareness of others. I've discovered that some of the most extraordinary stories are embedded in people who are often dismissed as seemingly ordinary. Learn more ...